Manufacture of artificial materials



Patented Feb. 20, 1640 PATENT OFFlCE 2,191,056 I r mmirso'roas or ARTIFICThL mrsmaas Georg Wick, Bitterfeld, Germany, assignor to 'G. Farbenindustrie Aktiengesellschaft,

Frankfort-on-the-Main, Germany No Drawing. Application July 25,1930, serial 9 No. 92,099. In Germany July 2a, 1935 laims.

Polymerisates of vinylchloride known as 901!- vinyl chloride, prepared as hitherto by the application of pressure and heat, have been brittle products. It has therefore been proposed to I add softening agents to the polyvinyl chloride. 7 either before or after moulding it. Although, however, these softening agents improve the moulding properties of theproduct, a satisfactory homogeneity is not obtained, the brittleness being 10 very little improved.

This invention is based on the discovery that if certain softening agents are added to the polyvinyl chloride at certain well-defined high temperatures a transformation suddenly occurs, the

18 mixture becoming homogeneous. While, for example, a mixture of parts of polyvinyl chloride and 50 parts of tricresyl phosphate cannot be made into a homogeneous mass at C. and 0. even with prolonged kneading, yet at 80. C. a sudden change in the behavior of the mixture is observed, which can be attributed to the setting-in of, homogeneity. Once produced, the

homogeneity persists when the temperature is union of the polyvinyl chloride and the softening agent into a homogeneous mass occurs, as I have V discovered, under pressure and at temperatures which have hitherto been supposed to approach 0 very nearly the temperature at which polyvinyl chloride decomposes.

The conditions under which the polyvinyl chloride gelatinizes-when heaud with a softening agent depend to'fa certain extent on the kind and 45 proportion of the softening agent and of the degree of-polymerization of the polyvinyl chloride. In calendering a mixture of 20 per cent. of-

a softening agent and" a medium pol'ymerisate of.

polyvinyl chloride a temperature of 130 to 150' .C.isused,whilewith50 percent.oi'a.softening agent, 110 to 0.,is used. As softening agents,

allthe known subs'tancesusedfor cellulose deriva tives and other known artificial materials may beused. Theestersofphvlphm-icacid,phtbalic umbensoicacimadlplcacidandthelikeare' ,preferable. Thesoi'tening-agentmostmitable .MMMIIMMIO'WM application must be ascertained by a preliminary experiment. The softening agent and the polyvinyl chloride may be mixed in a heated kneader, on rolls, under a press or any other suitable apparatus, while heating to the temthe masses prepared by this invention: almost 10 complete indifference to water and many aqueous solutions; good electrically insulating properties;

good indifference to temperature; permanence.

These masses may be used for sheathing and insulating conductors of electricity; as a substill tute for rubber, Celluloid, artificial leather and oilcloth; in the form of films and sheets, for wrapping, coating or the like.

The invention is illustrated by the: following examples, in which the parts are by weight: 20

Example 1.--100 parts of powdered polyvinyl chloride are mixed with '50-,parts of tricresylphosphate on a heated calen er. When 115 C.

is attained the mass suddenly egins to gelatinize. The rolling is continued until the rolls are coated with a perfectly homogeneous glass-clear skin. s The product is a tough rubbery mass which remains plastic even at temperatures somewhat below 0 C. 9

Example 2.-100 parts of polyvinyl chloride are worked with 30 parts of tricresyl-phosphate on a calender heated to C. until a homogeneoussheet is produced. The product suffers no appreciable change of weight even if left for daysin water or mineral oil. I

What I claim is:

1. The process for manufacturing artificial materials from an insoluble polyvinylchloride and tricresylphosphate, which comprises working together the said materials on a calender at a 0 temperature of 115 to 130 C. until a gelatinized homogeneous-sheet is produced.

2. The process for manufacturing artificial materials from-an insoluble polyvinylchloride and tricresylphosphate, which comprises mixing 100 45 parts of powdered polyvinyl chloride with 50 parts of tricresylphosphate on a calender heated to 115 C. until a homogeneous skin is formed.

8. The process for manufacturingartiflcial materlals from an insoluble polyvinyl chloride and a. w

softeningagent, which comprises working together the said material under pressure at a temperature between 110 and C. at which the mass gelatinizes, maintaining said temperature and continuing said working .at said temu perature until the mass becomes homogeneous. 

